Her Hero Read online

  Her Hero

  A Magnolias & Moonshine Novella

  Hildie McQueen

  Contents

  Copyright

  Also by Hildie McQueen

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Other Magnolias & Moonshine Books

  About the Author

  Her Hero

  USA Today Bestselling Author: Hildie McQueen

  Editor: Scott Moreland

  Copyright Hildie McQueen 2017

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without written permission. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Created with Vellum

  Also by Hildie McQueen

  (In reading order)

  Contemporary Western Romance

  Montana Bachelor

  Montana Boss

  Montana Beau

  Montana Born

  Montana Bred

  Fords of Nashville

  Even Heroes Cry

  The Last Hero

  Standalone

  Her Hero

  Cowboy in Paradise

  Chapter 1

  Chad Hunter took an unsteady step toward the fence. The ground tilted and next thing he knew, his head banged on the ground. Nickers surrounded him and something wet and warm nuzzled his face.

  Unable to do much more than bat the horse away, he moaned and fought the urge to throw up. Concussion? Possibly. Or it could be the remnants of too much Jack Daniel’s the night before.

  “Hey, you need a hand?” some idiot called out.

  “Nah, I decided to lie down in the dirt for a bit,” Chad snapped. “What the hell do you think?”

  So yeah, it was humiliating to crawl up on all fours before he could muster the strength to stand, but he’d be even more humiliated if he retched in the center of the corral. At this point, he’d be damned lucky to make it away from an audience before throwing up.

  “You don’t look very good,” a woman said. “Maybe we should get you to a hospital.”

  Whoever the Samaritan was, was about to get her boots puked on.

  “I’m fine. Give me some space.” If only the damned ground would stop moving, he’d be able to take a few steps without stumbling like a moron. “Shit.” Three steps later he hurled.

  Amidst half-disguised male chuckles, the woman once again spoke. “I don’t know why they consider it funny for you to be sick.”

  “Lady...” he gagged and spit out. “Go away...” once again he threw up what little was left. “I’m hung over, not dying...” Chad reached for the fence so not to land into the mess he’d created. “Go on now...”

  “Oh my God.” The woman gagged. “Oh...” by the strange noises she made, the lady would be joining him in the puke parade if he didn’t get her away from the stench.

  “Come on.” Damn it, this was definitely not a time to have to look after someone else, but he was a gentleman, so he exited the corral. Taking her arm, he guided the woman to the shelter of the horse stables. “You okay?”

  For the first time, he looked at her face. If he didn’t already feel shitty enough, multiply that shit by fifty.

  The usually beautiful Sophia Ortiz was an interesting shade of green. Her pretty face twisted as she leaned away from him and gagged. “You’re still drunk.” She covered her mouth with her right hand. “I have to go.”

  She raced away with unsteady steps toward the house. No doubt, she’d make a beeline for the bathroom, unlike him, to retch in private.

  “Great start to your first date,” his friend, Tom, said chuckling. “I don’t think she’ll want a second one.”

  “Ya think?” Disappointment settled into his gut. He’d fought so hard to get her to go out with him to begin with. “Shit. I screwed this up bad.” Why had she shown up so early? He’d asked her to join him for a horseback ride and show her his ranch. And, much to his surprise, she’d agreed.

  “If I were you, I’d sleep it off and then go find her. Half your face is covered in dirt, your eyes are bloodshot and you got puke on your shirt.” Tom sauntered off whistling. None of the mental daggers he shot at Tom’s back seemed to hit their target.

  “Are you all right?” A woman approached Sophia, her face etched with lines of concern.

  She’d stumbled into someone’s house sure she needed to throw up. Thankfully, the farther she got from Chad Hunter, the better she felt.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Sophia took a step backward. “I thought this was Chad’s house.”

  The woman laughed. “I’m his sister, his only sibling actually. This is his house, our house.” The woman stuck out her hand. “Charlene, but everyone calls me Charley.”

  Now that she studied the woman, there was a noticeable likeness between her and the drunk man outside. “I'm Sophia Ortiz. We were supposed to go for a horseback ride, but I don’t think he’s in shape for it.”

  “Oh?” Charley went to the window and peered outside. “I’m surprised the idiot is up and about. He and Tom got pretty wasted last night.”

  Sophia joined her to look out. “I think he still is.”

  “I’m sorry about that. He’s not used to drinking so much. But they were celebrating and things got out of hand. They’re going to be performing at a big rodeo in Atlanta.”

  It was easy to imagine Chad on stage surrounded by rodeo fans. She’d actually met him while shopping, at the produce department. Since then she’d run into him with surprising regularity. It turned out he worked out at the same gym and even attended her church. If it wasn’t for the fact he was continuously linked to different famous celebrity women, she’d think he stalked her.

  “I suppose that’s good news. But isn’t a rodeo kind of low budget for him?”

  Charley nodded. “They’re nuts over a champion bull rider and he invited them to hang out for the week he’s in Georgia. You know boys never grow up. Obviously they’ve got a weekend concert, followed by golfing and a weekend at an lake house near Atlanta.”

  Sophia swallowed. “Lake House? Island at Lake Lanier?”

  “Yes...I think that’s it. Why?”

  “What are the dates for this? I’m going to be there with my company. We’re filming a commercial.”

  Charley laughed. “What a coincidence. Nashville takes over a small lake Island.” She clapped. “Middle of next month.”

  With surer steps, Chad walked out of the stables. His wet hair was slicked back and the top of his shirt was wet. Sophia gathered he’d splashed water on his face and washed up as best he could with either a water hose or from a utility sink. The tall, handsome man stretched and rolled his shoulders. It was impossible to look away as he stood looking into the distance.

  He was the perfe
ct picture of a cowboy in his element. Tall, muscular and oh so handsome, Chad Hunter the famous country singer and rancher. Women would kill to be in her place at the moment, but Sophia wished to be anywhere else.

  After a devastating broken heart, the last thing she needed was to date a man who’d certainly shatter it again. Not because he’d die or anything drastic like that, but because a man like Chad Hunter, who had the world at his disposal, didn’t settle for a woman like her.

  She was a woman with a past.

  For some reason, she’d stuck around. Chad suspected it had a lot to do with his sister’s ability to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable regardless of the situation.

  At the kitchen table, the women were deep in conversation about something his sister and Sophia had in common. Both worked in advertising. Charley was his publicist and Sophia worked for a large marketing firm in Nashville.

  “Actually, our paths have crossed several times. I remember you from the networking workshop at the Hyatt last month,” Charley stated, her gaze moving to Chad. “Your presentation was very informational. I learned a few things.”

  With her back to him, Sophia did not know he’d entered the house. For a moment, he took in her long, black hair that swayed when she leaned sideways to place her elbow on the table. “I’m so glad you enjoyed it. It was a huge event. I think over five hundred women were there.”

  “And you don’t remember me?” Charley laughed. “I don’t understand.”

  Chad cleared his throat. “Hey Sis, can I get a minute with Sophia please?”

  Sophia straightened and her shoulders squared. She looked over her shoulder to him with flat lips and furrowed brows, but did not say anything.

  “Oh, of course. I’ll be in the office.”

  “We need to talk later,” Charley whispered in his ear as she breezed past him in her usual easy way.

  Now that Sophia had regained her coloring, it was hard for him not to stare. Yeah, he’d seen and been with countless beautiful women, but Sophia was different. Sensual as all get out with curves that knocked a man senseless, she had the air of someone not aware of how appealing she was.

  Her brown gaze followed him until he sat opposite her. Unsure of what to do, he tapped his finger on the side of Charley’s empty coffee cup. “I apologize. I had hoped to make a better first impression.”

  It was nice to see her lips inch up at the corners. “Today is not my first impression of you. I believe the first time we met was in the produce section at the grocery store.”

  “I wasn’t puking then. Thank God.”

  “No, you were not. At least not when you introduced yourself.” She cocked her head to the side. “We go to the same gym and church.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “Do we?”

  “Umm hmm.”

  So she’d noticed. So much for his efforts to blend into a crowd. “Cool.”

  “Now that I see where you live, it seems a long way to drive to go to church. There are so many closer to your home.”

  Time to change the subject.

  “I hope you will agree to go out with me again. Please allow me to make it up to you.” He held up his right hand. “I promise to be fully sober and not to drink the night before. I’m not a big drinker, so this is the result.” He motioned to his temple. “Banging in my head.”

  As much as he wanted to spend time with her at the moment, Chad’s stomach had yet to fully settle. “What do you say?”

  He understood, at that moment, what it was like to see emotional shutters come down. Her expression changed. Eyes and lips flattened and Sophia leaned back. “It’s probably for the best that today didn’t happen. I’m sure you’re a great guy, but I don’t want to go out with you.”

  Couldn’t say she wasn’t honest. And blunt. “Okay. I suppose there’s little I can say to that.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her brow crinkled. “You’re way out of my league. I’m not good with spotlights and such. I’m afraid my lifestyle is not conducive to dating a celebrity.”

  Her lifestyle? What the hell did that mean? “I’m not sure I’m following.” Chad cursed the hangover. While his stomach lurched at her words, it also churned for other reasons.

  Sophia slid a gaze to the side. “I prefer to remain out of the spotlight.”

  All he could do was nod. Not much he could promise there. Just meeting someone for coffee meant they’d be splashed all over E-News and she’d be labeled, automatically, as his latest conquest. “Okay.”

  With one last wan smile, she stood. “Thank you for the invite. I hope you feel better.”

  Chad didn’t bother to attempt to be a gentleman and see her to the door or, better yet, to her car. It wouldn’t do to throw up around her again.

  “Ouch.” Charley walked in and came up behind him. His sister leaned over and placed her chin on Chad’s shoulder. They’d always done that to each other. “I’m sorry, Bug.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been shut down so firmly.”

  “I bet.” His sister kissed his cheek. “What sucks is that she matters to you, huh?”

  Chad hoped his shrug conveyed nonchalance. “Nah.” He got up and trudged to his bedroom. Hopefully, the ache in his head and chest would be gone when he woke up.

  Either way, he’d be all right. Sophia was not the only one who could lower shutters. Once his closed, they never reopened.

  Chapter 2

  Why had she even agreed to the damned horseback ride? The situation had turned from awkward to very uncomfortable.

  Curiosity? No it was more than that. She’d gotten used to catching glimpses of Chad here and there. The idea of spending a relaxing afternoon riding horses at his ranch had been too incredible of an opportunity to turn down. Although there was no possibility of developing any kind of relationship and warning bells rang, she’d accepted his invitation.

  Now, not only had he proven not to take things seriously by being half-drunk and hung over for the date, but now she’d been too blunt and, possibly, hurt his feelings.

  It had never been in her nature to be so hard. However, one thing the last few years had taught her was that bluntness left no room for misunderstandings. Being upfront was the best way to get a point across and it also kept her in line. She couldn’t go back and say she’d changed her mind now.

  Although Chad was visibly surprised at her informing him of not wanting to see him, hurt even, there was a long line of other women waiting for a date with the superstar.

  Her empty home loomed. Since moving to Nashville after leaving her job in Los Angeles, she’d considered a pet many times. However, with as much as she traveled, it would be unfair to the animal. She pushed the call button and was instantly greeted by a cheery hello.

  “Hey Mandy, wanna meet for lunch?” Sophia turned right into a small shopping area. “I’m near our favorite salad place.”

  Sophia hung up after informing Mandy she’d shop while waiting for her best friend to arrive. Retail therapy, although not the best way, was cheaper than getting a second session in a month with her therapist.

  When an expensive handbag caught her attention, she wondered if, perhaps, she should have called her therapist instead.

  An hour later, she waited for Mandy to say something. Although impulsive and often easily distracted, her friend was as smart as a whip.

  “You should go out with him again. He seems like an awesome guy. I know you don’t want to go out in public and all that, but a horseback ride or something else on his land is safe enough.”

  “I agree. That’s why I said yes. But why even go through the motions when I know not only is he way out of my league, but it’s going to just hurt my feelings when I see him on the television with the next “woman of the day”?” Sophia made air quotes.

  Mandy sipped her lemonade. “Yeah. I know what you mean. But it would be fun. Plus I get to hear any inside scoop about him.”

  Sophia let out a big groan. “Oh, I almost forgot. You know that commercial we’r
e shooting with Brant Montgomery for the energy drink?”

  “The bull rider? Yeah, who could forget? He’s a hunk.”

  “Well, guess who will be in Atlanta? Not just for the rodeo, but also at Brant’s lake house.”

  “Chad?”

  “Yep.”

  Mandy laughed. “This is going to be an interesting trip. I’m not leaving your side cause that’s where all the exciting stuff will happen. The way Brant hit on you after our last meeting, those two will put the bulls to shame at vying for your attention.”

  “Oh hush. I haven’t dated in months and, all of a sudden, two men ask me out. Both famous and womanizers, by the way.” Sophia shook her head. “Crazy.”

  Just thinking of having to spend an entire weekend around the country singer made Sophia’s head spin. “I am not looking forward to it. Hopefully, he won’t insist on anything. That goes for the bull rider, too. There is no way I will ever date anyone with a public presence. The only famous person in my life destroyed it.”

  Mandy sobered. “I’m sorry, Sophia. It will take someone very special to accept your situation. I don’t know how you can stay so grounded and be so sweet. After you told me who your father was, I have to admit I considered distancing myself.”

  The words sliced into her and Sophia inhaled sharply. “I don’t blame you. No one in their right mind would want to be associated with me. I hate it so much. Hell, I’ve done my best to leave as much of my past behind as possible.”

  “You can’t help it, honey. But you’re right, as much as I enjoy joking about the attention you’ve gotten from those two men, I agree with you. Any kind of a relationship with someone in the spotlight would be disastrous.”

  The soothing music in the restaurant helped relax Sophia. “I’m glad you’re going to be there with me. Hopefully, Don will take care of the wining and dining, so I can concentrate on the technical aspect of filming and such.”